Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Aristocracy 12-25-03, 10:02 PM	I don't know if anyone has run into this problem before, but I'd really like some help with it. In the first campaign I started playing in, I'm a high elf cleric of Corellon Larethian (alignment true good). We started a second campaign not long ago, this time Oriental. The party was without a healer, and so I felt obligated to be one, so I'm a shugenja of the Phoenix Clan (true good alignment, Isawa School and water magic specialty). Well, the problem I have is that the characters are kinda crashing into each other. I really like both of them, but the similarities are just too great. The heart of the matter lies in the fact that I base them off of (idealized versions of) myself. I haven't submitted a backstory yet for my elf because my DM hasn't asked for one (mostly because I can't decide what I want). But the shugenja has already turned out to be a very noble diplomat in his clan. The problem is that I wanted the elf to be of noble heritage, too. Can someone give me some suggestions on qualities that I might change to make these characters less similar? Their ultimate goals are to be well-known and powerful nobles (good ones, of course). I'd really appreciate help. Sorry if I've left some important stuff out. Just ask for it - I'll give it to you once I see the request. Thanks!
Twilly 12-29-03, 07:37 AM	Do you have to play an elf? A change in race will certainly give a different feel about your character. I don't know what a shugenja is, maybe you can explain to me.
Aristocracy 12-29-03, 09:50 AM	No, I don't have to play an elf. I just happen to like elves. Changing the race would be in effect creating a new character. The character's race and his deity make up a great deal of who he is (or at least that's how I see it). I'm not great at explaining things, but shugenjas are like clerics in Oriental Adventures (in terms of spells available), but cast spells like a sorceror or bard (operate on a "known" basis and are Charisma-based). I'm from the Isawa school and have chosen Water as my favored element (that's the one that healing comes from). Any other suggestions? Thanks in advance.
TinySilverChalice 12-29-03, 10:25 AM	"Good Cleric Syndrome"... I get it all the time. I had the hardest time making a series of wise, good women sound different at the table. It didn't seem to matter if I made the lawful or chaotic, their even-tonedness and generous nature seemed to override and smear out any individuality I had meant for them to have. I didn't play NG for a long time (I do now, but not high wisdom characters). My advice: go with a version of neutral, TN, LN, or CN. These alignments can be just as helpful and affectionate to the party as a good alignment. The character can be kind and helpful to his party, county, etc., but won't be straightjacked into always being the voice of flowers and gumdrops. He can heal the party, have the same god (if you go CN), and not bore the pants off you with his goodie-two-shoes-ness.
Twilly 12-29-03, 11:08 AM	Maybe you can give us a short description of your previous cleric. How did you roleplay him and what kind of background had he. This way we might come up with an character that is an elven cleric, but is very different as your previous one. How is it that he/she (choice of gender could make a difference for roleplaying) became a cleric/shugenja. Was it a call from a celestial? Or was it that a cleric rescued you when you were young? Or you might have (had) dreams in which your deïty spoke to you. Or maybe you were evil in the past but you have seen the error in your way of handling things, you went to a church to seek forgiveness and nowadays you still try to right the wrongs you've done in the past. I think that secrets and misteries make a character interesting. Ofcourse you need a little help from your DM to let the other PC's slowly discover your past and well-kept secrets (without right out telling them).
Tzor 12-29-03, 11:08 AM	Here is a thought. Drop the good and drop the elf, and go with the water. Not from the character, but from your thoughts. Water magic makes the shugenja different from the cleric, so go with that, work it through the personality of the character. The character is still good and the character is still and elf, and those elements will still come through just as always, but putting an emphasis (if only in your own mind) on what makes the character different from other characters you have played will allow you to ensure that the character remains a unique character. So you really have to let the character flow and not have a rigid mentality towards goodness and the relationship to a deity. This may sound like I'm all wet, but using the things that make a character different as the starting point for making the character unique is really the best way to go.
Morka 12-29-03, 11:33 AM	Double post, sorry...
Morka 12-29-03, 11:35 AM	Have one of both be married with children, and the other one got either a vow of chastity, or is free to cruise women. Still for the second one, it could be a mix of those two concept: he cruise beautiful women, but when she is interrested, he says "No! I can't go farther!" :D Or you can vary the attitude toward some concepts: one is brave, the other one doesn't like to fight; one prefer the bow (elf), the other one a mace or staff; one wish to protect nature at all cost (elf), the second one if for the civilisation... This way, you still have your two idealized versions of yourself, with different backgrounds. :tiphat:
Aristocracy 12-29-03, 03:54 PM	Thanks for all the suggestions...they've really been helpful. Twilly: My elf cleric always does his best to try to advance goodness in the world and so advance the agenda of Corellon Larethian. Because of this, he will sometimes come into conflict with other members of the party who are not so kindhearted and good. He's a very tolerant being (given the party, he has to be). His first priority in battle is healing. His spell choices reflect that - he usually has spells prepared to deal with most situations which can be rectified with magic he possesses. In many situations, he acts as the group leader and is the group diplomat as well. He happens to be very well in with Fharlanghn because the party saved one of his temples (yes, it was a temple) from being taken over by demons. He typically will make friends where he goes, often at temples. BTW, I'm playing both of these missions concurrently. Sorry if I was unclear about that.
Twilly 12-30-03, 07:27 AM	Maybe you've read the stories or 've seen the movies about Don Quamillio. He is an italian priest with quiet a temperament. He is constantly talking to his god, debating. Don Quamillio: Why should I help that man, he has no faith in you! Jesus: He is only from flesh and blood, ........... bla bla (I don't know exact quotes :( ) Maybe your shugenja is constantly talking to waterspirits or something like that. Sometimes you've difficulty with your religion, you're in constant debate. But at the end you let the waterspirits talk you over and you accept their wisdom and ask for forgiveness. It is up to you (and your DM) to decide if your "waterspirits" are real, or maybe they represent your consience.
Fiantha 12-30-03, 07:11 PM	I have much the same problem, in that I react to situations in game much the same way I personally would react if I was dropped into the D&D world. I find that for each action I'm going to take, I have to stop and think about it from my character's perspective. I know this sounds incredibly obvious, but I really need to think about things like the fact that Fiantha takes risks, but I never do in real life. There are a lot of actions that could be interepreted as either good or evil, depending on your outlook. Last session my group used the body of dead adventurerer (not one of our group) to trigger and hold down a pressure plate trap. Not something I personally consider to be in good taste, but to my pragmatic, look-out-for-#1 bard, the guy was dead and long past caring. Think about things your character values. A cleric of Correlon Larethian might exemplify elvishness, and have high respect for things of beauty, like music and art. Or, he might have a passion for the forest and things of nature. A person with a water focus could value freedom more than anything else, could travel with few possessions and avoid the entaglements of a permanent home, a spouse or family. He could shun closed-in spaces, and complain and kvetch whenever he is dragged into a dungeon delve. I hope some of this helps you. Good luck, and keep us posted. --Fiantha